But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every moring: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion saith my soul: therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3: 21-26

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Time Travel Tuesday

Eighteen came shortly before graduation from high school. I worked at my father’s grocery store still.

I did not attend my senior prom because my boyfriend was away on a National Guard Reserves weekend. I ran around with his friends mostly—all at least two years older than I was. Much more cool than being a “popular girl” in my class. I had a “Promise Ring.” It was a very pretty pearl in a simple setting. I had my wedding planned. Rainbow pastels, kind of like My Pretty Pony all over the place. Our children’s names were picked out.

Joyce Carol Oates was my favorite author in my senior independent reading class. I dropped Physics because I needed my GPA to stay high. In hindsight I see I missed the opportunity to study with a good and caring teacher. Mr. V was willing to help me through the class by pairing me with other students who had a good grasp of the material. I declined. I had a scholarship to a university that I wanted to keep. I saw no use for Physics in MY future. Little did I know I would have two boys who would test the laws of Physics daily and I would be homeschooling them.

My mother signed me up for a retreat: TEC (Teens Encounter Christ). I. Did. Not. Want. To. Go. But I went. And I was blessed. I met people who changed my life dramatically.

Graduation was fun and I graduated in the top 10 percent of my class.

The legal drinking age in my state was 18.

I attend the university of my choice on a National Merit Scholarship. (I test well.) My mother and I unpacked my things. I got so upset and homesick I didn’t want to stay. My mother made me. I think that was one of the hardest things she ever did. I found out later she was very depressed after I left. My homesickness left and it was hard to get me home after that.

My first job in college was as a dishwasher. I took a class called “Theater of the Absurd.” I was waaaaay over my head with the uber-liberal, uber-socialist teacher. However for some reason he did not humiliate me in class as he had a habit of doing with others. It was eye-opening.

When I was 18 I watched 60 Minutes, One Day at a Time, Newhart, M*A*S*H, Three’s Company, NFL Football, , Trapper John, M.D., Hart to Hart, fame.

Music I listened to-- Open Arms, Journey (be still my heart—I still love this song); Eye Of The Tiger, Survivor; I Love Rock N' Roll, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts; Jack And Diane, John Cougar; Hard To Say I'm Sorry, Chicago; Tainted Love, Soft Cell; 867-5309 (Jenny), Tommy Tutone; You Should Hear How She Talks About You, Melissa Manchester; Shake It Up, Cars; Sweet Dreams, Air Supply; Heat Of The Moment, Asia; Leader Of The Band, Dan Fogelberg.

If someone were to ask me about my eighteenth year, I would have to admit to having a lot of fun. But I did a lot of things I would not recommend for an 18 year-old today. I missed some wonderful opportunities and made some poor choices. We know God works for the good in all things, but sometimes it is with childish, kicking, tatrum throwing material. But He is good, He is marvelous, He is awesome, and He is sovreign. I wish I might have been more obedient earlier. But...I would not want to give up the blessings that are mine today either.

That's scary to me, that you didn't want to leave and then didn't want to go back home ... God is good to stick with us even when we don't make the 'right' choices. I'm so glad He didn't give up on me. I want to do things that please Him from now on :o)...Thank you for your sweet words & for playing along.♥~Annie

I can hear the music...And now I come to you, with open arms...*sigh*I understand what you mean about having done things you wouldn't recommend for an 18 year-old today. I was there with you. I also agree that God is good - always. I am so glad in His goodness He has redeemed me from the stupid things I did. I am thankful He continues as my Redeemer!!!

hi julie: thank you for saying some cool stuff to me on my blog today. you are SO kind to me, my friend.

i got a kick out of reading your post. my all time favorite song will always be "open arms." you listed so much of the music, tv, and movies i liked then, too. i could relate to what you said here in most of your post. i was wondering if we are close in age? i am 38.

what a great recap of your 18th year...I think we've all made choices we've regretted or shouldn't have - that's just part of life! But if we learn from them, then that's the lesson to take from it. I love the song Open Arms!

Joy is the great note all through the Bible. We have the notion of joy that arises from good spirits or good health, but the miracle of the joy of God has nothing to do with a man’s life or his circumstances or the condition he is in. Jesus does not come to a man and say “Cheer up.” He plants within a man the miracle of the joy of God’s own nature. –Oswald Chambers

Every day, each moment, every single breath is an new opportunity to search for, find and embrace “joy in all things.” I am a Catholic (revert) believer striving to be obedient and pleasing to my Heavenly Father.
I am a wife, mother of two sons, daughter, sister, aunt, niece and friend. Reader, collector of hobbies, eclectic homeschool & ballet mom.

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Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. So it is with conversation. A single bad word, an evil action, an unbecoming joke, is often enough to harm one or more young listeners, and may later cause them to lose God's grace.

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It is never true that we have no time to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for Him. The time one has for anything depends on how much we value it. Thinking determines the use of time; time does not rule over thinking! The problem of spirituality is never, then, a question of time; it is a problem of thought. For it does not require much time to make us saints; it requires only much love.

My Talented Husband

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.Romans 12:9-13